Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, left Beijing Wednesday morning for an official and goodwill visit to Algeria, Cuba, Argentine, Uruguay and Tunisia.
He is visiting the five nations at the invitation of President of the National Assembly of Algeria Ben Salah, President of the Council of States of Cuba Fidel Castro and the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, the Congress of Argentine, Vice-President of Uruguay and President of the National Congress of Uruguay Luis Hierro and President of the National Assembly of Tunisia Fouad Mebazaa.
During the visit, Li Peng will have an in-depth exchange of views with the leaders of the five nations on bilateral ties, as well as regional and international situation.
He will meet with a wide range of personages from the parliaments and other walks of life in a bid to enhance friendship, common understanding and cooperation.
The visit will promote the all-round development of China's friendly relations and cooperation with the Northern African and Latin American countries in the new century.
Li's entourage includes his wife Zhu Lin, He Chunlin, secretary general of the NPC Standing Committee, Yao Zhenyan, member of the NPC Standing Committee and vice chairman of the NPC Financial and Economic Committee, Yu Zhenwu, member of the NPC Standing Committee, Liu Mingzu, chairman of the standing committee of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional People's Congress, Amudun Niyaz, chairman of the standing committee of the Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Regional People's Congress, Zhang Xuwu, vice chairman of the NPC Law Committee, Lu Congmin, deputy secretary general of the NPC Standing Committee, Yang Wenchang, vice foreign minister, and Wu Wenchang, director of Li Peng's office.
Those who saw Li and his party off include Tian Jiyun, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee; Luo Gan, state councilor; Jiang Yikang, deputy director of the General Office of CPC Central Committee, Yu Youmin and Jiang Yunbao, deputy secretary generals of the NPC Standing Committee, and Wu Donghe, ministerial-level official of the Foreign Ministry, and diplomatic envoys of the five countries.
( People’s Daily 10/31/2001)
